Staff and pupils past and present were invited to help a Rugby school celebrate its 100th anniversary.

Rugby High School, in Longrood Road, first opened on September 24 1903 as Arnold High School.

The original private school was based in Elsee Road and catered for girls over 10 up to university level as well as boys and girls in its preparatory department.

It moved to Clifton Road in 1927 after becoming a county council school and taking the name Rugby High School, before moving to its present site in 1960.

Now 100 years on, the school has established itself as the top girls' school in the area.

Former headteachers, governors and pupils joined current teachers and sixth form pupils for a celebratory lunch at the school yesterday.

They were also invited to view an exhibition detailing the school's history through photographs, including the school's first photo taken in 1904.

Staff have also made contact with the original founder's daughter Kathleen Reece, who lives in Canada.

Her mother, Olive Hands, who advertised the school as "a thoroughly efficient high school for girls" throughout 1903, left in 1909 and emigrated to Canada.

Mrs Reece said: "I know how proud my mother would be if she could see her school today - the many changes that have taken place over the years and the wonderful opportunities for learning and developing it now offers."

Deputy head Geoff Buck said the school has always striven to keep up the high standards first established 100 years ago.

"We now benefit from more facilities like a new technology block and an area for languages," he said. This year we are planning to open a new block which will be partly used for the sixth form and partly for drama.

"Funding is a problem - our counterparts Lawrence Sheriff received an endowment from Rugby School but we do not receive anything like that.

"I hope that we can secure more funding in our centenary year, but it is difficult as everyone is fighting for the same slice of the cake."

He said more events to celebrate to anniversary would be arranged later this year.

Anyone who would like to get involved should contact Rugby High School on 01788 810518.